Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (pt. 1): Mark 3:28-30

As I mentioned last week, we are taking the next couple weeks to cover an important theological issue from our last passage in Mark 3:7-35: the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Mark 3:29 reads, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (ESV).

Over the next few posts, I will unpack a few related issues that would help us understand this, perhaps most, important theological question. We’ll cover the following questions:

• What is “Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit”?
• How does one blaspheme the Holy Spirit?
• How does the “Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” relate to Jesus?
• Are there any references to “Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” outside of the Gospels?
• Can a Christian blaspheme the Holy Spirit and so lose his/her salvation?
• Is there hope for backsliders, blasphemers, or those who commit apostasy?
• How ought we think about God’s election (cf. Mark 3:13-14) and Judas’ betrayal?

But here let us briefly underline the context to Mark 3 and then the massive importance to this theological question.

Marks paints two pictures for us what it means to be on the inside or outside in relation to Jesus. The healing hungry crowds stand on the outside (in some sense) as Jesus withdrawals with His chosen apostles (3:7-19).  His family wonders if Jesus is a lunatic and the religious leaders presume Jesus deceitfully and demoniacally casts out demons. Then the passage concludes with disclosing who the most inside (“family”) insiders are. They are those drawing near to Jesus and doing God’s will.

Sandwiched between this second piece of outsiders and insiders lays Jesus’ response to the scribes that He is demonic. In short, Jesus responds in a two-fold way: first, He contradicts the very logic of their assertion; second, He warns them of these theological assertions.

This warning (3:28-30) is a most sober one. Jesus gives a heads-up to the gravity of the issue when He begins, “Truly I say to you.” Furthermore, Jesus puts the consequences to their faulty thinking in the most threatening category: eternal damnation. Perhaps, no greater question lay before the scribes and other outsiders at that point. What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? And the question poses no small issues for us as well. One’s eternity hangs in the balance over the issue of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Overall, this has something to say about being on the inside and outside in reference to Jesus. Your soul and mine depend on it.

Acts 4:11-12, “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (ESV).

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